Generalized system for plant growth analysis using infrared LED.

Abstract

A computer vision system was developed to analyze plant growth. The developed system has a great advantage that various shapes of plant can be applied without any modification of software. The system consisted mainly of CCD camera, image capture board, computer, infrared LED and mirror system, and was easily set up. The infrared LED was hooked onto the plant part which was the location to be measured. Images, containing both the plant and the LED, with the different angle were simultaneously obtained using the mirror system, digitized and stored into a magneto optical diskette at a fixed interval. The centroid value of the LED was computed from the stored images and determined as the LED location. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the newly developed system by analyzing the elongation rate of Verbena bonariensis L. The results were compared to that obtained by the former non-contact analyzing system and it was found that the new system was applicable to plant growth analysis. This approach can not be substituted for the non-contact analyzing system formerly developed because it is contact type. However, this system can be applied to various plants without any modification in software, and has a potential for a wide use.